Independently Owned, Locally Grown, Community Loved
Bowen came home with two prizes from the Queensland Day “All the Best” awards in Brisbane last week. The awards were decided purely by public vote with the Big Mango being named the best “Big Thing” and Birds Fish bar coming home with the prize of “Best Fish and Chips”. There were 15 categories including best beach, best pub, best burger, best meat pie, best beer and best landmark. Bowen was the only regional town to win two awards and was well represented at the awards ceremony where Premier
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Last Thursday over 50 people attended Queensland Tourism Industry Council’s (QTIC) World Environment Day hosted at the stunning Shute Harbour Marine Terminal. QTIC CEO Natassia Wheeler said World Environment Day is crucial to the tourism sector because without the environment in Queensland their wouldn’t be a tourism industry, she also highlighted the exceptional experiences here in the Whitsundays. “The natural environment is such a critical part of the tourism industry,” she said. “If you l
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Last Friday locals saw an impressive new addition open in the heart of Airlie Beach. The new Airlie Beach Foreshore Ferris Wheel stands tall near the lagoon and Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Collins said it’s great to see more mainland activities here in region. “I think it'll really add an additional layer of things to do, whether they're for locals, for visitors that are here, and even the cruise ship visitors that come to town,” he said. “It gives a real reason, particularly for you
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Last week, the Whitsundays Chamber of Commerce and Industry brought together business owners, students, and educators to talk about what matters most to the next generation of workers and what it means to work for a local business in today’s world. The event focused on the future of our regional workforce, exploring challenges around attracting and keeping great people, and what we can do as a business community to create clear, positive pathways for young locals from school, through training,
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Queensland Day 2025 was hosted at the Proserpine Entertainment Centre, and it was a great success. The free community afternoon was packed with local entertainment and Queensland spirit! Highlights included the Skyhigh Circus show, Wildlife Whitsundays animal encounters, market stalls, food vendors, kids’ craft and games, and live music on the lawn. Free lamingtons were also given out and the event ended with a special screening of Crocodile Dundee. Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Ry Colli
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Young athletes from the Next Stars Sports Academy have made their mark at the Northern Region Schools Cross Country Championships held in Townsville on Tuesday 27th of May, with a string of outstanding performances. Among the standout results: ● Kayne Higgins – 1st place, Under 10 Boys ● Maeve Dichera – 1st place, Under 10 Girls ● Penelope Shields – 1st place, Under 11 Girls ● Jack Oberg – 2nd place, Under 13 Boys ● Declan Dichera – 7th place, Under 12 Boys ● Willow Kenny – 8th place, Under 11
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The sun was shining for Mental Health Round as Whitsunday Sea Eagles recognised the importance of starting conversations and being able to access appropriate support services with all players and their families. All gate takings will be donated to Headspace Whitsundays who concentrate their efforts in the youth area, whilst blue armbands started conversations around the grounds about player’s mental health and support available. New Sea Eagles guernseys were also revealed much to crowd and playe
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With all youth teams having the weekend off, it was up to our seniors to provide some spectacle at home. The Divisional men hosted Country on Friday night hoping to return to winning form. However, the opposition had different ideas. Whitsunday took an early lead in the Div2 game, but Country grew into the game, earning a contentious penalty to equalize before halftime. They sustained pressure in the second half, eventually securing a 4-2 victory for the away side. Division 1 controlled posses
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The Whitsunday Game Fish Clubs last comp for the club year is on the 21 & 22 of June and is an open line class (monofilament only) event, fished to Game Fish rules and is part of the QLD. All-Ports competition where all Game Fish Clubs in the state compete over two separate weekends throughout the year for state awards. Our Clubs first weekend was part of our annual tournament last October where we scored well, so let's get as many members as possible on the water and put the Whitsundays near t
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Nine dedicated swimmers from the Cannonvale Cannons Swimming Club travelled to Mackay over the weekend to compete in the Pioneer Short Course Transition Meet at the ARC. Representing the club were Ella Bounden, Jax Clayworth, Zane Clayworth, Evelyn Doherty, Thomas Ganter, Lucas Korosec, Ruby Lawson, Matilda Nicholes, and Celeste Orenshaw. Several swimmers delivered standout performances, with Ella Bounden, Lucas Korosec, Ruby Lawson, Matilda Nicholes, and Celeste Orenshaw achieving personal bes
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It was a bumper week of bowls action at Airlie Beach as the first week of winter delivered packed greens, thrilling finishes, and a welcome return of the club’s much-loved June Carnival. Tuesday afternoon saw over 40 players take to the green, including more than 20 social bowlers, while Ladies Pairs and Triples competitions continued to advance. One of the day’s most gripping moments came during the singles match between Betty Whitehorn and Ladda Purdie, with Whitehorn edging out the Thai favo
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June 13 Melbourne International Comedy Festival Roadshow, Proserpine Entertainment Centre, 7:30pm 14 Botanical Bites, Club Whitsunday, 3pm - 5pm, $120 14 Multicultural Festival, Bowen Foreshore Sound Shell, 4pm - 8pm 14 Echoes of Pink Floyd - 60 years of Pink Floyd, Proserpine Entertainment Centre, 8:00pm 15 Bowen Community Markets, Hansen Park, from 8:00am 17 Tech Help, Cannonvale Library, 2:00pm-3:45pm 20 Whitsundays 112th Annual Regional Show Day 1, Proserpine Showgrounds 21 Whitsunda
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Friday 13th June Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers (7pm – 10pm) Grand View Hotel: Jackson Dunn (from 8pm) Saturday 14th June Airlie Beach Hotel: Grease vs Rocky Horror (2pm – 5.30pm) Airlie Beach Hotel: Andy Mammers (7pm – 10pm) Grand View Hotel: Sam McCann (from 8pm) Coral Sea Pavillion: (Live Music & DJ Session 1pm – 6pm) Sunday 15th June Airlie Beach Hotel: Grease vs Rocky Horror (2pm – 5.30pm) Airlie Beach Hotel: Paul Fergus Morris (6.30 – 9.30pm) Grand View Hotel: Jackson Dunn (4pm - 8pm)
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BMA CQ Rescue has responded to a high number of callouts over a busy start to June, taking to the sky 15 times between Monday 1 June and Sunday 8 June. The rescue helicopter completed flights to a wide range of locations including Clermont, Moranbah, the Whitsundays, Hamilton Island, Dysart, Bowen, Townsville, Palm Island and throughout the Isaac region. One of the 15 flights was a training mission. Among the week’s missions was a call to Hamilton Island, where the crew stabilised a patient an
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Whitsunday Sailing Club (WSC) is excited to announce 74 Islands Distillery as the Naming Rights Sponsor for the 2025 Airlie Beach Race Week (ABRW), boosting anticipation as entries surpass 100. This comes shortly after Whitsundays and Townsville were named venues for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games Sailing Competition. Terry Archer, ABRW Regatta Chairman and regular competitor, said, “A local artisan gin and vodka distillery on the Whitsunday coast, 74 Islands Distillery is one our club and com
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For those chasing a dreamy Whitsundays escape, Wings Sailing Charters offers the ultimate sailing experience from Airlie Beach. Recognised on the Best of Queensland list for exceptional personalised service, Wings delivers three premium products to suit every style of traveller. The Whitsunday Islands Sail, SUP and Snorkel Day Tour is perfect for those short on time but not willing to miss the magic. This six-hour experience cruises to stunning Langford reef and surrounding anchorages, with fle
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What’s more important to you in the City Centre – cool, green garden spaces or vibrant public art? Mackay Regional Council is in the process of finalising the draft Mackay Waterfront Place Strategy and is asking residents to have their say on the actions to prioritise. The Mackay Waterfront Place Strategy is a collaborative project setting goals to support placemaking in the City Centre and Riverfront – helping the areas to offer more for residents, better support local businesses and at
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Laughter, stories, and a touch of nostalgia filled the air at Carlisle Gardens on 26 April, as the descendants of the late Frederick Leonard Stayt (Lenny) and Margaret Francis Eleanor Stayt (née Mosey) gathered for a heartfelt family reunion. Frederick, born in 1896, was a well-known farmer at Newbury Junction near Marian and the proud patriarch of eight children and 27 grandchildren. This special occasion brought together 47 adults and 17 children – including two cherished matriarchs, 17 firs
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Students Shine In Pioneer Valley Film Workshops Noosa Film Academy’s hands-on program, supported by the Mackay Regional Arts Development Fund, gave Mirani, Marian, and Mackay students a rare opportunity to direct, act, and edit their own short films – resulting in a red-carpet premiere at the Pinnacle Playhouse. Laughter and applause filled the historic theatre as young filmmakers walked the red carpet to debut their creative works. The audience, made up of proud families, educators, and
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Next film night June: Ghostlight Alex Thompson and Kelly O'Sullivan’s moving, gently comic collaboration is about the power of live theater to make sense of our offstage dramas and personal narratives. Ghostlight centers on Dan (Keith Kupferer), a melancholic middle-aged construction worker grieving a family tragedy. Cut off from his devoted wife, Sharon (Tara Mallen), and talented but troubled daughter, Daisy (Katherine Mallen Kupferer), Dan finds comfort and community in a misfit company of a
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A program with a proven track record of improving the quality of care for surgical patients has been introduced at Mackay Base Hospital and the clinical team overseeing the initiative is excited about its potential. The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) was developed by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) in the early 90s to monitor the surgical care of veterans. The project is led by Surgeon Champion Dr Adrian Westcott and clinical nurse consultant Emma Jacobson, who wa
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A popular coastal haven near the Port of Mackay is receiving a major upgrade, with construction officially underway on the $2 million North Wall Recreational Area improvement project. The works were launched on Tuesday morning by Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates, alongside Member for Mackay Nigel Dalton, Member for Mirani Glen Kelly, North Queensland Bulk Ports (NQBP) Chair Jane McTaggart and Acting CEO Carissa Mansfield. They were joined by some of the commu
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Sunset Bay Outrigger Canoe Club has returned from a strong showing at the Australian National Long Distance Titles, held in Mooloolaba from May 23–25, 2025. With just nine senior paddlers attending, the team still managed to bring home a haul of medals and proud performances. Friday brought cool conditions, but it didn’t take long for Bryan Wilkinson and Steph Lomas to find their rhythm, earning a silver medal in the 16km Senior Master OC2. New club member Peter Drew made a bold debut in a fiel
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The foreshore area adjacent to the McEwens Beach swimming enclosure – locally known as “the Knoll” – is undergoing a makeover. The project, initiated by the McEwens Beach Progress Association, will see 2000-plus tube stock, all local coastal species, planted to reinforce the foreshore’s native vegetation and help stabilise the foredune. Beach fencing, which has improved access to the swimming enclosure and will help protect the new plantings, has already been installed. Mayor Greg Williamson
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After a strong wind warning snuffed out SPARK a fortnight ago, the exciting pop-up event is set to reignite from Thursday, June 12, to Sunday, June 15. After the event was postponed, organisers sprang into action to reorganise the dozens of activities and attractions scheduled to activate the old cinema car park on Wood and Gordon streets. SPARK will now ignite with an evening networking event from 5pm to 7pm on Thursday, June 12, and will then be followed by three days of continuous activatio
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